Showcasing a remarkable collection of political cartoons, the much-acclaimed exhibition ‘Cartoon E Birdroho’ wrapped up on Saturday at the DrikPath Bhaban in the capital.
From August 16, the exhibition showcased a well-curated collection of 175 artworks by 82 cartoonists, capturing the spirit and significant incidents of the student-led anti-discriminatory movement, leading to the Hasina regime’s eventual fall on August 5.
The July massacre, the youth-led mass movement, the strength of their voices, and their unwavering spirit were all memorialized in this unique exhibition, jointly organized by Earki, Drik, and the Bangladesh Cartoonist Association.
The first major cartoon exhibition after the movement, ‘Cartoon E Bidroho’ saw an influx of crowds throughout its run. The cartoons, caricatures, graffiti and satirical pieces which circulated on social media during the movement, came alive in the exhibition, according to the visitors.
“We initially planned the exhibition from August 16 to 23 but had to extend it till August 31 due to the massive crowd response and their interest. We have held major cartoon exhibitions before, notably, the exhibition titled ‘Election the Selection’ at Drik before the 12th parliamentary election in January,” Simu Naser, Founder and Editor of Earki and a curator of the exhibition, told UNB.
Apart from the vivid display of provocative satirical cartoons that portray the events of the July tragedy and the tyrannical deeds of the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the exhibition also featured a caricature section for in-person attendees. Simu Naser told UNB that the money gathered from the caricatures would be donated to the flood victims.
